37 species in a one week family holiday (29th July-3rd August 2007) at Caleta da Fuste with daily morning and late afternoon birding forays by car. One tank of fuel used.
Sites visited
Barranaco de la Torres (page 77 in Clarke & Collins)
Worth trying at different points along it’s length. Richard Bonser’s directions very useful see
http://www.freewebs.com/richbonser/fuerteventurafeb2003.htm
Las Salinas (page 77 in Clarke & Collins)
Good for looking offshore
Catalina Garcia (page 70 in Clarke & Collins and Beevers, 2006)
Good but not as productive as reported in the past. Perhaps 2007 has been drier ? A brand new locked nature reserve hide here was infuriating.
Barranco de Rio Cabras (page 80 in Clark & Collins)
Park in the new housing estate off the main road.
Antigua & Trinquivijate (page 7 in Gosney, 1994)
A lot of effort for very little but worthwhile for flyby views of Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
La Olivia (page 67 in Clark & Collins)
Very successful short evening visit. Worth returning to.
Cory’s Shearwater
300+ passed north close inshore past Las Salinas in fifteen minutes at 1820 hrs on 1st August and three seen from a boat offshore there late morning the next day.
Little Egret
Up to 4 at Catalina Garcia
Grey Heron
Up to 3 at Catalina Garcia
Spoonbill
Colour-ringed bird at Catalina Garcia on 1st & 3rd August
Ruddy Shelduck
Two present in the afternoons but 10 at Catalina Garcia in the early morning on 3rd August
Egyptian Vulture
One over the plain east of Catalina Garcia on 1st August. One circling over the south end of Barranco de la Torres on 3rd August
Buzzard
2+ east end of Barranco de Rio Cabras, 2 La Olivia
Kestrel
Male off the F2 near Barranco de la Torres 30th July. One at east end of Barranco de Rio Cabras on 31st July
Barbary Partridge
4 in Barranco de la Torres on 29th July then 8 flew across the F2 south of Barranco de la Torres on 3rd August
Moorhen
2 at Catalina Garcia
Coot
40+ Catalina Garcia
Houbara Bustard
4 fed in cultivated fields at 1845 hrs at La Olivia on 2nd August. One flew out of fields briefly when disturbed by farm worker with dogs. Viewed from track from car and seen well.
None seen in extensive searches around Trinquivijate, plains near Barranco de Rio Cabras or plains near Barranco de la Torrres.
Black-winged Stilt
Pair at a pool north end of Barranco de la Torres. 4+ Catalina Garcia
Cream-coloured Courser
5 resting in the shade of small bushes next to Catalina Garcia 29th July, 10+ on the plain north of Barranco de Rio Cabras 31st July, 4 on the plain east of Catalina Garcia on 1st August and one in scrub besides the pool. None seen in extensive searches around Trinquivijate.
Little Ringed Plover
14 at a water pit at the north end of Barranco de la Torres 29th July. 2 at Catalina Garcia 30th July.
Green Sandpiper
One flew off from a water pit at the north end of Barranco de la Torres 29th July
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Golf course near Caleta da Fuste on 29th July and 2+ on the plain near Barranco de Rio Cabras on 31st
Yellow-legged Gull
Daily flocks on a new Golf course south of Caleta da Fuste with groups congregating on plains and the sea near there. 450+ on tip NE of Barranco de Rio Cabras and flocks resting on the nearby plain on 31st July.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
3 feeding on ground near gravel works north of Antigua on 31st July then 40 flew across NE across plain south of Trinquivijate. 2 in flight nearby on 1st August. 2 flew up Barranco de la Torres on 3rd August.
Collared Dove
Common including 10+ at Barranco de la Torres
Turtle Dove
24 flew out of cultivations at north end of Barranco de la Torres on 1st August, 3 in fields half way along the barranco there on 3rd.
Plain Swift
One over Barrano de la Torres 29th July, one with Pallid Swifts over Caleta da Fuste on 30th July
Pallid Swift
Flock of 12 north end of Barranco de la Torres on 1st August and briefer groups of 20 ‘swift spp’ near the airport on a number of occasions were presumably this species. Two over Caleta da Fuste on 30th July.
Hoopoe
1 at Catalina Garcia and 2 near cultivations in Barranco de la Torres on 31st July
Lesser Short-toed Lark
10+ on the plain north of Barranco de Rio Cabras on 31st July and similar numbers around Trinquivijate the same day. 6 on the plain east of Catalina Garcia on 1st August
Swallow
1 Barranco de la Torres on 1st August
House Martin
6 Barranco de la Torres 29th July, 2 Catalina Garcia 30th
Berthelot’s Pipit
Common on open areas e.g. 8+ near Barranco de Rio Cabras on 31st July, 10+ around Trinquivijate on 1st August, 4 on the plain above Catalina Garcia on 3rd August
Fuerteventura Chat
2 male and a female in Barranco de Rio Cabras on 31st July, 3 obliging individuals beside cultivated fields north end of Barranco de la Torres on 1st August
Melodious Warbler
One feeding half way along Barranco del la Torres 29th July
Spectacled Warbler
4+ Barranco de Rio Cabras, 2 Catalina Garcia
Sardinian Warbler
Heard at a few locations but seen well at Catalina Garcia (early morning) and 6+ in Barranco de la Torres
Southern Grey Shrike
4 on the plain north of Barranco de Rio Cabras, 6+ along tracks from Trinquivijate, 6+ around Barranco de la Torres, 1 La Olivia
Raven
2 around Trinquivijate, 7 at Barranco de la Torres, 5 La Olivia, 2 Catalna Garcia
Spanish Sparrow
15+ around Trinquivijate, 20+ at the north end of Barranco de la Torres
Linnet
Flock of 8 at top end of Barranco de la Torres on 29th July. 6 coming to small pool midway along Barranco de la Torres on 3rd August. 2 at Catalina Garcia.
Trumpeter Finch
20+ seen regularly in walled field north end of Barranco de la Torres.